REEEP projects create a base for clean energy policies

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) will fund 21 new clean energy projects in 17 countries this year, with the aim of widening access to modern energy and supporting low-carbon development in emerging markets and developing countries.

This year the emphasis is on a smaller but quality portfolio, which can provide an evidence base for global public policy on low-carbon development and the green economy. REEEP is allocating EUR3 million (UD4.2 million) to the selected projects. A further seven projects are listed for review and possible support.

In line with 2012 being proclaimed the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, a total of 11 projects will target South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the two regions where energy poverty is most acute. Just under half of all the funded projects support the development of policies and regulations that aim to create the basic market conditions for clean energy.

"Our policy and regulation projects include support for creating performance and labelling standards for LED lighting in Ghana, and for a regional initiative to establish household appliance energy labelling programmes in eight West African countries including the Ivory Coast, Niger and Senegal," says Marianne Osterkorn, REEEP's Director General.

"Energy efficiency standards and labelling are an especially cost-effective tool for governments in increasing end-user energy efficiency," Dr. Osterkorn notes.

The transport sector offers huge potential for low-carbon energy, so policy measures will also include support for optimizing the bus rapid transit system in Jakarta; a project bringing Indonesia onto the roster of REEEP beneficiary countries for the very first time. 
Five projects specifically target low-carbon development in China, including a study on a national-level carbon trading framework with the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, and a smart grids study on how to integrate an increasing share of renewables into the Chinese electricity network, led by the China Electric Power Research Institute.

"This year we have increased the level of scrutiny of the proposals and have decided to support a lower number of projects than previously announced," notes Binu Parthan, REEEP's Deputy Director General.

"The emphasis is on a smaller but quality portfolio which can provide an evidence base for global public policy on low-carbon development and the green economy," says Parthan. "We are also pleased to add Indonesia to our portfolio and see considerable opportunities for low-carbon energy in that country," he notes.

This funding cycle is REEEP's eighth, and is made possible by donations from the governments of the United Kingdom and Norway.